Printing-machine.



J. S. DUNCAN.

PRINTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 29.1912. 1,209,409. Patented Dec. 19,1916.

l3 SHEETSSHEET I.

1. S. DUNCAN.

PRINTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 29.1912.

Patented Dec. 19, 1916.

I3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

J. S. DUNCAN.

PRINTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION HLED JULY 29,1912. 1,09,09. Patented Dec. 19,1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

I. S. DUNCAN.

PRINTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 29.1912.

1 ,QQQ QGQ. Patented Dec. 19, 1916.

I3 SHEETS-SIIEET 4-.

Jaw/Z267 l. S. DUNCAN.

PRINTING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JULY 29,1912'.

Patented Dec. 19,1916.

13 SHEETSSHEET 5- magma J. S. DUNCAN.

I PRINTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION man JULY 29.1912.

Patented Dec. 19, 1916.

13 SHEETSSHEET 6- J. S. DUNCAN.

PRINTING MAC H|NE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 29,1912.

Patented Dec. 19, 1916.

I3 SHEETS-SHEET 7.

J. S. DUNCAN.

PRINTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 29,1912.

Patented Dec. 19, 1916.

13 SHEETS-SHEET 8- .I. S. DUNCAN.

PRINTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 29. 1912.

- Patented Dec. 19, 1916.

13 SHEETS-SHEET 9.

J. S. DUNCAN.

PRINTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 29,1912

LQQQAUQ, Patented Dec. 19,1916.

l3 SHEETS-SHEET l0- J26 l. M0

J. S. DUNCAN.

PRINTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILEDJULY 29,1912.

Patented Dec.19,1916.

13SHEETS-SHEETH- J. S. DUNCAN PRINTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION mzo JULY 29.1912.

129%9. Patented De0.19,1'916.

l3 SHEETS-SHEET l2 OOOOO '00 oo o J.-S. DUNCAN.

PRINTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 29,1912.

139,409. Patented Dec. 19,1916.

I3 SHEETS-SHEET I3.

i. FKQ.

JOSEPH S. DUNCAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO ADDRESSOGRAPH COMPANY,

OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

PRINTING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 119, 19116.

T all whom it may concern Be it known that I. JOSEPH S. DUNCAN, a citizen of the United States. residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and use ful Improvements in Printing-Machines, of which the followingis a specification.

This invention relates in general to printing machines and has for its primary object the provision of a machine'adapted to print at one printing operation a complete circular letter including the address and the salutation.

Another object of the invention is the provision of novel means whereby a difi'erent address is presented at each printing operation and whereby the proper salutation required by each address, such as Dear Sir Gentlemen. or Dear Madam is automatically provided.

A further object of the invention resides in the utilization of a common inking ribbon through which the body of the letter, the address and the salutation are simultaneously printed. thereby eliminating the distinctions between the address, salutation and body of the letter which are readily apparent when the body of a letter and the addressand salutation are printed from different ribbons.

Still another object is to secure a uniform and equal platen pressure upon each printing character of the letter body. address and salutation. so that ,theentire letter will present uniform and equally-distinct character impressions closely simulating typewritten matter.

Another object is to provide means whereby the pressure of the platen may be regulated and also means whereby the length of the effective stroke of the platen may be regulated. as required. 1 7

Other objects and advantages of the present invention and many novel features of construction will be recognized as the details of one preferred embodiment thereof become better understood by reference to the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings.

inferring to the drawings-Fig1nc 1 is a plan view of a printing machine embodying my invention. a portion of the machine at the feed end being broken away; Fig. 2 is a front elevation looking toward the delivmy end of the machine shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a similar view looking toward the feed end of the machine shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a side elevation looking toward the right at Fig. 1: Fig. 5 is a. transverse sectional view taken on the line 55 of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a plan view of the machine with certain parts removed, said view being taken substantially on the line 6-43 of Fig. 5; Fig. T is a longitudinal sectional view through the machine, taken substantially on the. line T-T of Fig. (i; Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view showing the salutation forms and mechanism for operating the same; Fig. 9 isfan elevational view looking toward the left in Fig. 8. certain parts of the machine being omitted: Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a section of the address from carrier track: Fig. 10 is a view taken substantially on the line 10-1O of Fig. 6; Fig. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the intermittently operated connection between the drive shaft and the platen operating lever; Fig. 12 is a view looking toward the left in Fig. 11: Fig. 13 is a fragmentary view of one of the platen track adjusting devices: Fig. 14 is a view looking toward the left in Fig. 13: Fig. 15 is a view taken on the line 15'15 of Fig. 5: Fig. 16 is a sectional view taken on the line 'i616 of Fig. 15: Fig. 17 is a detail perspective view of'one section of the platen track; Fig. 18 is a perspective view of an address form; Fig.

. 19 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken through the stationary printing form, the address form and a salutation form; Fig. 20 is a perspective view of the track upon which the salutation forms slide; Fig. 21 shows a detail of the stationary printingform; Fig. 22 is a fragmentary perspective view of the stationary form bed; Fig. 23 is a'detail of the sliding bar connecting the various Salutation forms: Fig. 24 shows the face of the address form bed; Fig. 25 is a detail view showing a salutation form typeholder: and Fig. 26 is a detail view showing one of the t \-'pcliolders with which the stationary form bed is equipped.

"The machine shown on the. drawings as illustrative of one n'actical embodiment of my invention is designed to print at each operation a complete form letter including the address and salutation and to automaticallyv change the address at each operation and, also. automatically present the particular salutation required by the address being printed. To this end the machine includes a stationary form bed upon which the body of the letter is set up, a plurality of address forms which are stored in a magazine and fed consecutively to printing position and, also, a plurality of Salutation forms with mechanism controlled from the address forms to present the required salu tation form at each printing operation. A single inking ribbon is employed through which the address, salutation and body of the letter are printed, thereby insuring uniform and homogeneous impressions from all of the forms. A single platen is mounted to travel across the forms and produce an impression simultaneously from the stationary, the address and the salutation forms, the platen being operated in the present instance by novel mechanism which causes it to travel alternately in opposite directions across the form and to print during its movement in each direction. Suitable mechanism is also employed for regulating the platen pressure and also for regulating thc length of the effective platen stroke. The details of construction, however, of the mechanism briefly mentioned are capable, as will be readily apparent when the invention is better understood, of considerable variation in structure and operation without departing from the essence of the present invention.

By reference now to the drawings, it will be observed that the various mechanisms are carried by a main frame 31 supported upon suitable pedestals or feet and shaped or proportioned in accordance with the requirements of the mechanisms mounted thereon. The top of the frame is adapted to receive and support a suitable stationary printing form bed 32 (Figs. 5 and 8) which is equipped with type to provide the form from which the body of the letter is printed. Referring to Figs. 19, 22 and 26 it will be seen that the base of the bed is provided on its upper face with a series of transversely extending parallel grooves 33 in which are arranged T-shaped type-holder bars 34 spaced apart a sufficient distance to permit the individual type 35 to he slid into position between them. The type may be of any preferred construction, but, in the present in-l stance, I have shown them as provided with undercut grooves at each side to receive the flanges of the holding bars and so proportioned that the type will be positioned as closely together as the individual impressions and lines of impressions are in ordinary typewritten matter. It will be understood that the structure of the stationary bed may be varied as desired and that it may, if preferred, be made of sheet metal with the printing characters stamped up therefrom. The number of lines of type and the subject matter represented thereby will, of course,

be determined by the character of the letter to be printed in any particular instance.

Address printing mechanism.-The address forms 36, which are employed to provide various addresses to the body of the letter produced by the stationary printing form, are arranged in a suitable magazine 37 at one side of the machine, as shown in Figs;

3, 5 and 6. One of the address forms is shown on an enlarged scale in Fig. 18, from which it will be observed that a sheet metal body is provided with suitable open-ended slots 38 into which the type 39 are inserted in the usual manner and held in position by slugs, or otherwise. The ends of the address form, or printing device, as it is frequently termed, are preferably bent downwardly and then inwardly as indicated at 41, thereby forming spacing and supporting flanges to prevent injury to the faces of the type when the devices are stacked in the magazine.

The address forms may be conveyed consecutively from the magazine to printing position adjacent the stationary printing 'orm by any suitable mechanism, one practical construction, however, consisting of an endless chain conveyer 42 and a movable bed 43, (Fig. 5). The conveyer as shown comprises a pair of chains trained around suitable sprocket wheels 44 and 45, the upper travel ofthe chains being disposed directly beneath the magazine 37 so that the address forms may drop thereon, one at a time. The conveyer is equipped at intervals with projecting members 46 adapted to engage with the rear edge of the lowermost address form in the magazine, whereupon the form is carried forward by an intermittent motion of the conveyer into position directly above the bed 43 as shown in Fig. 10. Suitable stationary tracks or guideways 47 support the upper travel of the conveyer and, also, maintain the address forms in proper position thereon. The sprocket wheel is mounted in a suitable bearing 48 (Figs. 5 and 6) which may be adjusted by an adjusting screw 49 to regulate the tension of the chains. An intermittent motion is imparted to the conveyer by means of a Geneva stop motion which comprises a radially grooved member 51 fixed to the shaft 52 on which the sprocket wheels 44 aremounted and a roller 53 (Figs. 3 and 6) carried by a. gear wheel 54 mounted on a shaft 50 and driven from a gear wheel 55 on the shaft 56 which shaft, in turn, is driven through the intermediary of the bevel gears 57 from the main drive shaft 58 which may be actuated by the handle 59 or by power derived from any suitable source. The roller 53 is adapted to engage in one of the radial grooves of the member 51 and impart a quarter turn to the shaft 52 at each revolution of the gear 54. A suitable stop plate 61 on the face of the gear 54 is adapted to hold the shaft 52' against rotation between above theconveyer and into printing positlon with its printlng face in alinement with the printing face of the stationary form.

The bed 43 is provided on its upper face with a series of ribs 62 (Figs. 19 and 24) adapted to engage with the body of a printing device 36 between adjacent lines of type to form a rigid and substantial support for the address form during the printing operation. The bed is mounted upon a frame 63 (Figs. 5, 8 and 10) which is provided at each side with rollers 64 resting upon and supported by cams 65 on the shaft 56. A link 66, pivoted at one end at 67 to the bed frame and at 68 to the frame of the machine and a similar link (39 pivoted at 71 to the lower end of the bed frame 63 and at its other end at 72 to the main frame of the machine. serves to guide the bed frame in its up and down movements and retain the same at all times in a substantially vertical position so that the upper face of the bed 43 is maintained in horizontal position. The cams 65 are so shaped and proportioned that when the conveyor is moving. the upper face of the bed 43 will be disposed beneath the path of travel of the address forms on the conveyer and when the conveyer stops, the bed will be elevated sufficiently to raise the particular address'form disposed thereover into printing position in alinement with the stationary form i In order to hold the address form in proper position on the bed and to prevent displacement of the form during the printing operation, I have mounted a clamping plate 73 at each side of the conveyer on a post H which, in turn, is slidably mounted in perforated studs 75 and 76 fixed to extensions of the frame 63. A coiled expansion spring 77 surrounding each post presses against the stud 76 at one end and a pin 78 at the other end passes through the post 74. This spring normally holds the clamping plate 73 down against the track 47 which is cut away at this point as indicated at 80 F ig. 9) to permit the top of the clamping plate to lie flush with the top of the tracks. but sufliciently above the pat-h of travel of the address forms 36 to permit them to travel freely along the tracks (as shown in Fig. 10). \Vhen the bed 43. however. raises the address form off from the conveyer the ends of the form are brought into engagement with the clamping plates 73 which hold the form tightly against the face of the bed and prevent the form from becoming displaced. Suflicient clearance is provided between the stud 76 and the plate 73 to enable the bed to be brought into engagement with the address form before the plates are raised. \Vhen the bed has been elevated a predetermined distance the stud 76 is brought into engagement with the plate, or, if preferred, the parts may be so proportioned that the stud 75 will be brought into engagement with the pin 78, whereupon the bed, the address form and the clamping devices will all travel up- -wardly together without further relative movement between them. Upon lowering the bed it will be understood that the address form is deposited on the conveyer, the clamping plates are sustained above the form by the tracks 47 and the bed proper travels downwardly a. sufiicient distance to permit the form to be carried along Without interference upon the next actuation of the conveyer. After the address form has been again deposited on the carrier by the movable bed. subsequent to the printing operation, it is delivered by movement of the carrier over a guide or separator 79 (F ig. 5) into a drawer. or other receptacle 81, supported in an inclined position on a table or trough 82. The trough is pivotally carried intermediate its ends in a stirrup 83 so that the rear end may be lowered to permit removal of the drawer 81, whereupon the drawer with the address forms contained therein may be stored for future use, or the forms may be returned directly to the magazine 37. A retarder 81f: cooperating with a movable packer 85 operated by a well known means (not shown) serves to maintain the address forms in compactrelation to each other as they are delivered in succession to the drawer.

Salutation printing mcchmn'sm.In the present machine the Salutation is printed simultaneously with the address and the body of the letter and, in order to provide the proper salutation. to each address I have equipped the machine with three independent Salutation printing forms adapted to print Dear Sir. Gentlemen and Dear Madam", respectively. The forms in themselves may be of any preferred construction stamped up from sheet metal, or composed of individual type assembled in a holder. In the present instance, however. I have chosen to illustrate the Salutation forinsas consisting each of a suitable holder 86 (Figs. 19 and 25) grooved on its upper surface to receive the type 87 which are formed to fit snugly in the grooves of the holder. These holders with the type therein are mounted in alinement upon a suitable track 88 extending parallel with the lines of type on the stationary and address forms and mounted at each end upon the main frame 31 of the machine, as shown in Figs. 6 and 8, the track being screwed or bolted to the frame in the required position, as shown. By referring more particularly to Fig. 20 it will be seen that the track or bar 88 is provided intermediate its ends with an ele vated portion 89 which, in practice, is formed immediately beneath the position where it is desired to print the salutation on the letter. The sides of the typeholders 86 are extended downwardly as shown in Figs. 19 and 25 to straddle the track 88. Each holder 86 is provided on one side with an aperture 91 and a bar or slide 92 is equipped on one side with projecting studs 93 each adapted to engage in an aperture 91 of a holder as shown in Fig. 10. These studs fit loosely in the apertures in the holders so that the holders may move upwardly relatively to the bar as they ride over the high portion 89 of the track. The bar is moved longitudinally to bring the required form over the high portion of the track by mechanism which will be hereinafter described. In Fig. 10 the middle holder is shown as resting on the high portion of the track so that the printing characters are elevated into printing position and in alinement with the printing characters of the stationary form and the address form. The track is provided with a groove 91 (Fig. 20) in which the lower edge of the bar is guided and a lateral groove 95 is also provided to accommodate the ends of the studs 93. In order to obtain the requisite spacing between the salutation and the first line of the body of the letter, it is desirable that the first line of type of the stationary form be positioned close to the Salutation forms. To this end a member 96 is bolted or otherwise secured to the edge of the form bed 32,

which member is equipped with a groove 97 to receive the base of the type and provide a holder therefor, and is also provided with an overhanging shoulder 98 beneath which the bar 92 slides. It will thus be seen that the sliding bar is guided in its reciprocatory movements by the member 96 and the track 88 and it will be manifest that by simply moving the bar back and forth the required Salutation form may be shifted onto the elevation 89 of the track and thereby presented to printing position. The upward movement of-the form bed 43 brings the address form close to the saluta tion form so that when the printing operation takes place the address, salutation and the first' line of the body of the letter will all be spaced apart the requisite distance.

The movement of the bar 92 to bring the required Salutation form into printing position is preferably controlled from the address forms. themselves, which have certain structural characteristics adapted, through the cooperation therewith of certain mechanisms, to cause a Salutation form, corresponding with the address form to be printedfto be presented to printing posi tion. Various different structural character istics of theaddress forms might be selected to accomplish this result and suitable mechanism be designed to cooperate therewith. In the present instance, however, I have dis closed one practical and efficient manner of controlling the salutation forms from the address forms which will now be described. A link 99 is connected atone end with the sliding bar 92 and at its other end to an oscillatory member 101 adapted to oscillate in both directions beyond the central position shown in Figs. 8, 9 and 10. The oscillation of this member is controlled by a feeler 102 pivoted at 103 on an extension 104 of the movable bed frame 63, which feeler, dependent upon the extent of its movement permitted by the particular address form subjected to detection, causes the oscillatory member to move in one direction or the other from neutral position. To the upper arm of the feeler there is pivotally mounted at105 a pair of rigidly connected feeler fingers 106 and 107, respectively, differing in length as shown in Fig. 8. A coiled ten sion spring 108 secured at 109 to the bed frame 63 and at 111 to a lateral arm of the feeler normally tends to urge the fingers toward. the left (Fig. 10) into engagement with the address form 36 positioned above the movable bed 43. A fixed pin 112 projecting from the main frame of the machine holds the feeler in retracted positionv when the bed frame 63 is in lowered position. When the bed moves upwardly, however, carrying with it the feeler pivot the spring 108 rocks the feeler about its pivot to project the fingers toward the address form being raised, the track 17 being cut away as indicated at 110 (Fig. 9) to permit projection of the feeler fingers into engagement with-the form. The address forms requiring diflerent salutations are characterized by a predetermined number of perforations 113 provided in the ends of the forms as shown in Fig. 9. Some of the forms have one perforation, some two and some none, and, obviously, the extent of movement of the feeler about its pivot will depend upon the number of perforations. If, for instance, the particular form being detected is provided with no perforations the end of the longer feeler finger 107 will abut against the end of the form andthereby prevent any operative movement of the feelerabout its pivot. If the form is provided with one perforation the longer feeler finger will pass through the perforation and the movement of the feeler will be limited bv engagement of the end of the shorter finger with the end of the form. If two perforations are present in the form being detected both fingers will protrude through carrying with it the slide, the

the perforations and the maximum movement of the feeler will be permitted. In this way the extent of movement of the feeler is automatically controlled by the address forms.

The oscillatory member 101 has a widened base as shown in Fig. 10, one end of which is pivotally connected by a bolt 111 with a stirrup 115 normally supported upon the frame 31 of the machine, the bolt 114 having a projecting end extending over the slide 125. A pin or rod 116 projects downwardly through and fits relatively loosely in a boss on the machine frame, thus affording a sliding connection between the stirrup and the frame which permits the stirrup to be raised without being disconnected from the frame. A similar stirrup 117 is spaced from the stirrup 115 a distance substantially equal to the width of the base of the oscillatory member and is likewise slidably connected with a boss 120 on the frame 31 by a pin or rod 118. In order to permit the oscillatorv member to oscillate without binding the pins 116 and 118 in their bosses, a link 119 is employed to effect a. connection between the oscillatory member and the stirrup 117. This-link is pivoted by a bolt 121 to the base of the oscillatory member and by a pin or bolt 122 to the stirrup 117. the bolt 122 having a projecting end extending over the slide 125 similarly to the bolt 111. A spring 123 connected atone end with the machine frame and at its other end with the oscillatory member normally holds said member in the neutral position shown. The bed frame 63 is provided with an integral lateral extension 12-1'which projects adjacent to the stirrups 115 and 117. The slide 125 is mounted in a guiding groove formed in the face of the extension 121 and is held in operative position therein by a. clip 100 secured to the face of the extension. The inner end of the slide is provided with a perforation into which extends the lower end 126 of the feeler 102. The slide is provided adjacent its outer end with two notches 127 and 128 best shown in Fig. 8.

In the position of the parts shown the notch 12? is in alinement with the pin or bolt 111 and when the bed frame is elevated, notch enables the slide to pass the pin 114 withoutengaging therewith and the oscillatory member remains in neutral position with the salutation Gentlemen in printing position. Should an address form provided with one perforation 113 be presented for detection by the feeler the feeler will move about its pivot, as previously explained, until the end of the shorter finger 106 engages the end of the form. This movement will cause the slide 125 to move outwardly a sufficient distance to bring that portion of the slidc hetween the notches 127 and 128 directly beneath the pin 114. Upon upward movement of the bed frame the slide will engage with the pin and carry the pin upwardly with it, thereby oscillating the member 101 to the right, viewing Fig. 10, about the pin 122 as a pivot. The address forms will, therefore, e moved to the right and the Salutation Dear Madam will be presented'to printing position. Should an address form provided with two perforations be presented for detection a maximum movement of the feeler about its pivot will be permitted, as previously explained, and the notch 128 will be moved to position directly beneath the pin 114:. The end of the slide, however, beyond the notch 12? will be positioned beneath the pin 122 and upon the upward movement of the bed frame this portion of the slide will engage the pin 122, thereby carrying it upward and oscillating the member 101 to the left about the in 114 as a pivot. This movement will slide the salutation forms bodily to the left and present the Salutation Dear Sir to printing position. It will thus be seen that with the mechanism disclosed the required Salutation form will be presented to printing position at each printing operation without any care or adjustment by the operator. Accord- I ing to the present disclosure the address requiring the Salutation Gentlemen is set up in a form having no erforations; that requiring the Salutation Dear Madam is set up in a form having one perforation and that requirin the Salutation Dear Sir is set up in a orm rovided with two perforations. Obvious y, however, this order might readily be changed by simply changing the relative positions of the Salutation printing forms on the slide bar 92 and other Salutations other than those mentioned above might be employed, if so desired.

Paper feeding mcclzanism.-The paper is fed through the machine from left to right, viewing Fig. 4, and is held in position over the printing forms during the printing operation by mechanism which Wlll now be described. The main frame of the machine is provided with a rearwardly extending bracket or projection 130 (Figs. 4 and 7) in which is journaled a shaft 129. A sheave 131 fixed on said shaft is connected by a belt 132 with a sheave 133 fixed on the drive shaft 58, whereby a continuous rotary move ment is imparted to the shaft 129. Pulleys 131 and 135 are fastened on the shaft by set screws which may be loosened to permit adjustment of the pulleys longitudinally of the shaft for the accommodation of paper of different widths when required. At the opposite end of the machine (Figs. 2 and 6) are mounted a pair of shafts 136 and 137 carrying pulleys 138 and 139, respectively, which are likewise adjustable on these shafts to alinewith the pulleys 134 and 135 at the opposite end of the machine. Tapes 141 and 142 are trained over the pulleys and extend across the machine adjacent the printing forms. From Fig. 5 it will be observed that the upper travels of the tapes are disposed just above the printing forms while the lower travels run beneath the forms. The stationary form bed 32 is preferably provided with grooves 143 on its lower face to permit transverse adjustment of the tape 142. Idle pulleys 14- and 145 are mounted on shafts 146 and 1 17, respectively, at the delivery end of the machine over which the tapes travel and similar idlers 148 (Fig. 7 are adapted to guide the tapes at the feed end of the machine. In order to maintain the tapes under the requisite tension a belt tightener in the form of a pulley 149 is carried at the extremity of arms 151 pivoted on the shaft of the roller 148 so that the weight of the pulley 149 is sustained by the tapes. The tapes are continuously operated, as before stated, and the aper is deposited upon them at the feed or eft end, viewing Fig. 7 either by hand or any suitable feeding device.

For the purpose of stopping the paper in printing position over the forms, I have provided suitable stops against which the forward edge of the paper abuts. These stops designated by 152 (Figs. 1 and 7) are mounted on arms 153 fixed to a rock shaft 154 extending transversely of the machine. The stops may be adjusted longitudinally of the arms 153 so that when the arms are in the elevated position, as shown, the forward edge of the paper will abut against them and the paper will be stopped in proper position for printing. To revent the feeding of more than one piece 0. paper onto the printing form at one time, I have provided a plurality of preliminary stops (Figs. 1 and 7 mounted on rods 156 secured to a rock shaft 157, which stops are also adapted to be elevated into the path of the paper. The shafts 151 and 157 are connected by a link 158 so that the two shafts are rocked synchronously to raise and lower all of the stops simultaneously. An operating arm 15!) extends from the shaft 157 over cam 161 fixed on the shaft 58. At each revolution of the shaft the stops are lowered below the path of travel of the paper to permit the sheet already printed to be delivered at the rear of the machine and to permit the sheet being held by the stop to progress to printing position. The stops are then elevated into position shown in Fig. 7 to prevent further movement of the paper until after the next printing operation. From the foregoing it will be understood that the paper is fed intermittently by continuously moving tapes and is retarded at intervals in its travel by stops interposed in its path.

n/sing mechanism-.In the present machine the impressions are taken through a single inking ribbon which extends over the stationary, the salutation and the address forms. This inking ribbon 162, as shown in Fig. 5, is fastened at each end to suitable ribbon rolls 163 and 164, respectively. These rolls are mounted in the main frame of the machine and are operated to feed the ribbon forward after each printing operationby means of mechanism best disclosed in Fig. 2. Referring to this figure it will be seen that each ribbon roll shaft is equipped with a ratchet Wheel 165 and that a lever or link 166 on one shaft is connected with a similar lever 167 on the other shaft by a link 168. A pawl 169 is pivoted at the end of the link 168 and is held in operative relation with the ratchet wheel 165 .by a spring 171. The spring also holds the pawl in inoperative position when turned on its pivot against a stop on the link 166 so that the spring pulls on the opposite side of the pivot and against the stop. A similar pawl 172 is mounted at the other end of the link 168 and is held in operative or inoperative position by a spring 173. A link 174i is connected at one end with one arm of the lever 167 and at its other end encircles an eccentric 175 on the shaft 56. At each revolution of the shaft :1. reciprocatory movement will be imparted to the pawls 169 and 172 and the inking ribbon will be fed in one direction or the other, depending upon which of the pawls is in operative engagement with its ratchet wheel. When the ribbon has been entirely fed through the machine the pawls may be reversed to cause the ribbon to be fed back in the other direction. By employing a single inking ribbon through which the impressions are taken simultaneously from the stationary form, the address form and the Salutation form, a much more uniform or homogeneous letter will be produced than would be possible where the body of the letter, the address and Salutation are printed throughdifi'erent ribbons. The advantages of a single ribbon both in the character of the work produced and in the simplicity of mechanism will be readily apparent.

llaten opcratiny mecham'am.'lhe paper is pressed against the inking ribbon superimposed upon the printing forms by a platen of any suitable construction. In the present instance, however, I employ a rotatable cylindrical platen 176 which is caused to travel, by novel operating mechanism, back and forth across the forms lengthwise of the lines of type. The platen is guided in its movements across the form between suitable tracks mounted on adjustable brackets 177 and 178 which tracks cooperate with guide rollers 179 and 181 mounted at the ends of the platen. Bearlit ing blocks 182 are mounted on the ends of the platen shaft and each block is connected with an endless chain 183 (Figs. 4 and 7). Suitable sprocket wheels 181 and 185 are mounted on the machine frame and the chains 183 are trained around them, the sprocket wheels being so arranged that the pull upon the platen is exerted in a right line substantially parallel with the faces of the printing form. A bell-crank lever 186 is pivoted at 187 to the main frame of the machine and the long arm of the lever is connected by a link 188 with the lower travel of one of the chains 183. \Vhen the lever is oscillated about its pivot the chain will be moved back and forth and this motion will also be imparted to the other chain through the shaft 189 (Fig. 6) to which both of the sprocket wheels 185 are fixed.

The mechanism for operating the bellcrank lever 186 is best shown in Figs. 3, 7, 11 and 12. Referring to these figures it will be observed that a collar 191 is loosely mounted on the inner end of the shaft 58 and that one end of the collar is connected with the short arm of the bell-crank lever by means of a link 192. An arm 193 is fixed to the shaft 58 adjacent this collar and car ries at its outer end a pivotally mounted dog 194. The collar is provided on its inner face with a pair of studs 195 and 196 and, a tension spring 197 connected at 198- with the dog 194: and at its other end with a pin 199 fixed to the arm 193, tends normally to urge the dog into engagement with the studs. A fixed pin 201 projects from the bracket 200 supporting the shaft 58 into the path of the tail of the dog 194. so that as the shaft 58 revolves the dog will be pre- (Fig. 11), but will be released after passing that stud and drawn by the spring 197 into position to en age the stud 195 after the dog has complete a half revolution. Engagement of the dog with the stud 195 will cause the collar 191 to turn with the shaft 58 through half a revolution, at which time the engagement between the dog and the stud will be broken by engagement of the tail of the dog with the pin 201. The collar will then remain stationary until the shaft has completed the other half revolution, whereupon the dog will be brought into engagement with the stud 196 which is then in uppermost position. It will be obvious, therefore. that each revolution of the shaft 58 causes a half revolution of the collar 191. The bell-crank lever 186 is thereby oscillated to move the platen alternately in opposite directions across the printing form. It will be seen, therefore, that the various mechanisms are so timed and arranged that the platen will make only one excursion across the printing form at each complete cycle of the machine and, as the result, the

vented from engaging with the stud 196 Referring now more particularly to Figs. 1

5, 7, l5 and 16, it will be observed that the rollers 179 travel beneath the tracks 202 mounted on the overhanging portions of the brackets 177 and 178. These tracks hold the platen down in operative relation to the printing form. For the purpose of regulating the effective stroke of the platen I prefer to make the track 202 in two sections, one of which is shown in Fig. 17, adapted to overlap. These sections are positioned in undercut grooves in the brackets 177 and 178 and are held in position by plates 203 fastened to the brackets by screws 204, or other suitable means. If long lines are to be printed the track sect-ions are extended the required distance in opposite directions by simply loosening the plates 203, thereby increasing the distance within which the platen will be held against the form. When shorter lines are to be printed it is desirable to shorten the tracks 202, accordingly, so that pressure will not be exerted upon the ribbon beyond the ends of lines which might cause smudging of the paper.

The platen is yieldingly urged upwardly against the tracks 202 by lower tracks 205 positioned to engage with the rollers 181.

These tracks, as best shown in Figs. 15 and 16, are yieldingly supported by leaf springs 206, the upward movement of the tracks being limited by bolts or screws 207 connecting the tracks with the brackets 177 and 178. These tracks are adapted to support the weight of the platen and when the rollers l79-travel off the ends of the tracks 202 the platen is sustained and slightly elevated, thereby obviating any danger of pressing the paper against the ribbon to cause smudging. From an inspection of Fig. 15 it will be observed that the ends of the track 205 are curved upwardly as indicated at 200. This upward curvature is provided to positively lift the platen a limited distance above the paper, thereby permitting the paper to be freely fed into and from printing position. The platen is, therefore, caused to travel in a right line in operative relation to the printing form during the length of its effective stroke and at the completion of its stroke in each directionit is positively elevated out of engagement with the paper so that no obstruction will be offered to the 

